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Social Work (MSW)

Please visit the program page to learn about curriculum, faculty, careers, and more! You may also be interested in seeing our course descriptions. To request more information about this degree, please fill out our form.

How to Apply

Application Forms for New Applicants (Fall 2019)

Editing Your Current Application

If you have already started an application to one of our programs, please edit your application by visiting your self-service portal.

Non-Matriculating Program

The non-matriculating program is available to prospective students who wish to enroll in one or two courses before formally applying to our Master's in Social Work program. In some instances, applicants may be required by the Office of Admissions to enroll in the non-matriculating program prior to formal matriculation. The non-matriculating option and course offerings are available on a space available basis.

Application Requirements and Instructions

Please submit an application file that includes the following:

Completed on-line application form

The online application form requires you to upload your personal statement and résumé prior to submission. Once an application is available, it can be submitted online at any point prior to the admission deadlines. To guarantee rapid processing of your application please submit your online application well in advance of the deadline. You may save and exit your online application form at any time. You may continue working on your application by signing back in using the credentials you supplied when you began the application. To ensure accurate tracking of your application materials, please be sure to start and submit only one application to our MSW program. If you want to change your start term or program, please email us. Please do not open another application.

$45 non-refundable application fee

A $45 application fee, payable by credit card, must be paid at the time of submission of your application. The application fee is not refundable. Limited application fee waivers are available for applicants affiliated with non-profit organizations such as: City Year, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and Teach for America, and military personnel and veterans. Please email Admissions to request instructions for obtaining the fee waiver.

Résumé

A detailed résumé must be uploaded before submitting the online application form. Your résumé should include relevant employment and/or volunteer experiences, education and professional trainings/certificates. Please address any gaps in employment/volunteer experiences in your personal statement. A CV may also be submitted.

Personal Statement (3-5 pages answering the following questions)

  • How has your professional, volunteer and academic experience contributed to your decision to be a professional social worker and how it prepared you for graduate social work education? Provide specific examples from your professional, volunteer or academic experience to explain your answer. Make sure to describe your role and the organizational, community and social context for your experience.
  • What particular aspects or special fields of social work interest you most?
  • Why does Simmons School of Social Work best suit your educational needs?
  • What contributions will you make to the school community and to your fellow students?
  • How do you plan to manage the rigorous demands of graduate course work and field education?

Additionally, if you have low or inconsistent grades, or attended multiple schools, please discuss factors that contributed to your academic performance.

The Statement of Purpose will be used by the admissions committee to assess and understand your preparation, readiness and motivation for graduate social work education. The Statement of Purpose is also considered a writing sample and is assessed for writing quality.

Official college transcripts, indicating graduation date

Official transcripts from all previous college courses taken are required. Community college and study abroad transcripts are required only if the course grades are not reflected on your main college transcript.

We prefer transcripts to be sent electronically. You can make your request directly with your undergraduate institution. Your undergrad institution will submit electronic transcripts via Student Clearing House, Scrip-Safe, E-Scrip, Parchment Exchange, or any other certified electronic transcript services. Please use our email ssw@simmons.edu to send electronic transcripts. 

If it is not possible to send transcripts electronically, please mail official transcripts to the address below:

Carlos Frontado
Director of Admission on Campus Programs
Simmons University School of Social Work 
300 The Fenway,
Boston, MA 02115

International transcripts must be officially translated and evaluated for educational equivalency. 

These instructions are for the on-campus MSW. 

Three letters of professional or academic recommendation

We require three professional or academic recommendations to be submitted on your behalf, which must be submitted using our online recommendation form.

As you fill out your online application you will be able to send an invitation to your recommenders which will contain a personalized link to the online recommendation form. You may send the recommendation invitation to your recommenders at any point while you fill out your application. You do not have to wait to submit your application before sending the recommendation invitation. Please note, you must click the "Send Invitation" button to have the invitation sent out. This invitation is not sent out automatically and will not be sent out by Admissions.

In addition to the required fields included in the online recommendation form, recommenders may choose to attach a formal letter of recommendation with their submission.

After inputting your recommenders' information and sending the invitation you will be able to track the receipt status of each recommendation via your self-service portal.

*If your recommenders have any trouble accessing the online recommendation form or did not receive the initial recommendation invitation, please contact the Office of Admission for assistance.

Additional Requirements

  • Additional Statement for Certificate Programs
    If you are applying to a certificate program you must include an additional 1-2 page personal statement. The prompts are specific to each certificate and are included within the application.
  • TOEFL scores, if English is not the first language
    If you have an undergraduate degree from an English speaking country, TOEFL is not required.
  • Source of income statement (for international students)
  • Writing Skills for Social Workers
    This course may be required as a preregistration condition for some students. It teaches some of the basic skills necessary for written work at Simmons including such issues as; writing a literature review, organizational skills in writing, using the APA format and other skills useful for entry into the program. 
  • Mandatory Health Insurance
    Effective September 1, 1989, all full-time and three-fourths time students enrolled in a Massachusetts institution of higher education are required to be covered by health insurance for the 12 months following September 1, or from the date of enrollment, if after September 1, until August 31 of each year enrolled. The insurance coverage must meet minimum requirements as defined by the state as Qualifying Student Health Insurance Plan (QSHIP). All colleges and universities offer insurance that students must purchase unless they waive participation by demonstrating that they have comparable coverage.

Note: Standardized test scores are not required.

Application Status and Admission Decisions

Application Status

After submitting the online application you will be able to track the status of your application and required materials by signing into your self-service portal at any time. While it is your responsibility to check on the status of your application via the self-service portal, the Office of Admission will occasionally send you emails will updated information about your application. Applications materials are updated to submitted applications daily and will be reflected in your self-service portal as soon as they are received. Please allow 5-7 business days after the submission of your online application for all required materials to be updated to your application and before contacting the Office of Admission regarding the status of your application.

Admission Decisions

Decisions will be mailed to the address that you provided on your application. To see when your admission decision will be mailed to you, please review our admission deadlines. Please inform the Office of Admission of any changes to your mailing address, phone number, or email address. Admission decisions will not be emailed or given over the phone.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; it is desirable that applicants have a balanced liberal arts education on the undergraduate level.

Applicants must show a commitment to social work values and personal qualifications for social work, evidenced in the applicant's Statement of Professional and Educational Intent, and the applicant's letters of recommendation.

An interview is not required; however under certain circumstances we may require an interview with the Director of Admission or a member of the SSW Admissions Committee after application review. Although an interview is not required, informational visits and/or informational conversations via telephone are welcomed and can be arranged by calling 617-521-3939.

MSW Program Admission Deadlines Fall 2019

Fall 2019 (Full-time and extended programs)

  • Rolling admission deadline: July 29th, 2019
  • Non-Matriculating Program deadline: July 29th, 2019

July 29th, 2019 – Rolling Admission Deadline

Rolling admission is done on space available basis. As soon as applicant files are completed, the admission committee will review their files, and notify applicants within 2 weeks. Prospective students who apply on the rolling admission basis will be considered for merit scholarships, if scholarship funds are still available. 

The Office of Student Financial Services will mail accepted applicants a separate letter that will include complete financial aid information, including merit scholarship, if eligible, and federal educational loans. 

Applicants who hold a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) and who have graduated from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program within the last five years can apply for Simmons's three-semester Advanced Standing Program. The program includes a three-day-per-week (24 hours) advanced field placement from September to early August (13 credits), and 24 credits of advanced coursework.

Admission requirements for the Advanced Standing Program include:

  • A B.S.W. from a CSWE-accredited program.
  • A minimum grade of "B" (3.3) in all B.S.W. course work.
  • An overall GPA of 3.0.
  • Completion of the B.S.W. within the last five years.

Please submit a completed application file that includes the following:

  • All admission materials requested for the MSW degree
  • Of the three letters of recommendation, one must be from the supervisor of the applicant's B.S.W. internship. Applicants who have been employed in a social work position for a minimum of one year post BSW may submit a letter of reference from an MSW employment supervisor.
  • In addition to the statement of professional and educational intent, Advanced-Standing applicants must include a two- to three-page summary of their BSW internship learning, including:
    • social work models and approaches utilized
    • a case example that exemplifies how the applicant applied theory to guide his or her understanding of the case and intervention or treatment plan
    • a self-assessment of learning to date, including goals and challenges anticipated in an advanced clinical placement
  • A copy of the applicant's most recent B.S.W. field placement evaluation

Students interested in applying to the Advanced Standing Program must provide supplemental materials in addition to the general application for admission to the M.S.W. program. 

Advanced Standing Sample Schedule

Course TitleSemester
Advanced Clinical PracticeFall
Advanced Standing SeminarFall
Assessment and DiagnosisFall
Clinical Practice Electives (2)Spring and Summer
Evaluation in Social Work PracticeFall or Spring
Field EducationFall, Spring, and Summer
Social Action ElectiveFall, Spring, or Summer
Open Elective (1)Fall, Spring, or Summer

Please Note

If all of your supplemental Advanced Standing materials are not included in your admissions packet, please explain in a letter what is not included, why, and when we can expect to receive the missing materials.

Simmons welcomes applications from international students. In recent years, the school has enrolled students from countries including Korea, Uganda, Kenya, Italy, Canada, China, and Japan. Students for whom English is not the first language are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score that demonstrates satisfactory proficiency. A minimum score of 600 on the paper test, 250 on the computerized test, or 105 on the Internet-based test is required. Simmons must receive test scores directly from ETS.

TOEFL Institution Code=3761 TOEFL Department Code=95

International students also must submit a Certificate of Finances Form that demonstrates proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses while enrolled at Simmons. The school cannot issue an I-20 until we have received the required statement. Please arrange with your bank, sponsor, or government to complete our Certificate of Finances Form, which is available online or by request.

We regret that we are not able to provide financial assistance or teaching assistantships to international students.

Visa requirements dictate that international students on an F-1 student status complete their course of graduate study within a two-year period. Students should plan to use summer sessions to take courses in order to remain in compliance.

Transfer Students Applying to Simmons M.S.W. program from other M.S.W. Programs

Transfer students are encouraged to apply to SSW. Acceptance is based on the strength of their application and available openings. Transfer students are those who apply to leave their current MSW program and matriculate as an M.S.W. student at Simmons. Applicants must be in good standing with the school from which they are transferring and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. 

Application Requirements:

  • Completed application form
  • Nonrefundable application fee $45 
  • 3 to 5 page personal statement of career goals and how the program supports them
  • A short statement outlining their reasons for transferring
  • Official college transcripts, indicating graduation date and transcripts from current M.S.W. program 
  • Letter of good standing from the Dean, Associate Dean or Director of the MSW program
  • A field evaluation for first year field education is required
  • Three letters of professional or academic recommendation

Additional information for transfer applicants:

  • A maximum of 32 credits may be requested for transfer. Only credits from a CSWE accredited M.S.W. program will be accepted.
  • A syllabus for each course must be submitted for transfer credit
  • Courses in which the student receives a “B-” or lower will not be transferred
  • All M.S.W. coursework, including transfer credits, must be completed within 5 years

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP) offers fully trained and licensed clinical social workers $50,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community based site in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that has applied to, and been approved by, the NHSC as a service site.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a loan forgiveness program targeted at students who pursue public service careers and who have high debt but not high income. Generally this program is available to anyone who works in a non-profit organization. Debt forgiveness is available for Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Plus Loans and Grad Plus Loans. For more information, please visit these web sites:

Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works has a resource page for student debt relief.

Income-Based Repayment Resources

IBRinfo.org has information and tools for students to apply for Income-Based Repayment and update their income online. They also offer an IBR calculator. 

Indian Health Services (IHS) Loan Repayment Program

MSW prepared clinical social workers, employed by the IHS, are eligible to apply for the IHS Loan Repayment Program. For more information, visit the IHS website.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Public Health Professions (PHP) are responsible for addressing the health needs of over 1.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in a network of 48 hospitals, more than 230 clinics, and a system of Tribal and Urban programs. As part of the US Department of Health and Human Services Their mission is to raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of this diverse population to the highest level. To contact the social work recruiter call 301 443 4754

Army National Guard Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Social Workers

The Army National Guard is a part-time service that requires one week-end a month and 15 days of annual training each year from October to October and has a flexible training program that can fit individual's schedules. The Massachusetts Army National Guard's Medical Detachment is located Hanscom Air Force Base in Lexington, MA. For those students who will be leaving Massachusetts, positions exist in other States.

Additionally, the Guard provides Federal Loan Repayments up to $60,000 ($20,000 a year for three years), Special Bonus of $45,000 ($15,000 a year for three years), $400,000 life insurance, Tri-Care Medical Coverage, PX and Commissary Privileges. Upon completion of 20 years service in the Guard, you would receive a Military Pension at age 60 and be entitled to receive all Military Retiree benefits, to include Health Care. Appointees should attend an Officer Basic Course within 18-24 months of joining the Guard at Fort Sam Houston, TX

For more information contact Joseph Guerriero at 571-641-9032 or at jguerriero@mpscrc.com

Resources

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees at Simmons are updated annually each spring. They are assessed each semester based on the number of credits enrolled, the level of degree, and the particular program of study.

Health insurance

All students taking 9 or more credits are required by Massachusetts State law to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan or be covered by a health insurance plan with comparable coverage.

Contact us

On-campus Program: 617-521-3939 or email 
Online Program: 855-523-7779 or email

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